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Anaiya Vilakku album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pillaiyaiyum Killi Vittu

From Anaiya Vilakku · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Mu. Ka. Muthu
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Anaiya Vilakku
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
18 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pillaiyaiyum killivittu
Thottilaiyum aati vittu
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasi
Pillaiyaiyum killivittu
Thottilaiyum aati vittu
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasi
Silar poonaikkum thozhan enbaar
Paalukkum kaaval enbaar
Antha kadhai kaattuthu un mugaraasi
Pillaiyaiyum killivittu
Thottilaiyum aati vittu
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasi
Kadhalil paathi kaividum jaathi
Kaalaigal enbarkal ellorum
Aanaal kadhalan thannai kaividum pennai
Kandavar illaiyammaa ennaalum
Pudhithaai irukkuthammaa seemaatti unnai
Pennena solluvathaar paaraattu
Pillaiyaiyum killivittu
Thottilaiyum aati vittu
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasi
Sooriyan thannai yaarena ketkum
Thaamarai pooovengum kidaiyaathu
Un ullaththai kelu unmaiyai koorum
Nenjukku poi solla theriyaathu
Nilavai vaanariyum thannaalae
Nam uravai oorariyum munnaalae
Pillaiyaiyum killivittu
Thottilaiyum aati vittu
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasi
Ooruyir endru uravinil andru
Eeruyir kalanthathellaam poiyaachchu
Antha pattinaththaarum pathinettu perum
Paadina vaarththaiyellaam meiyaachchu
Nambinor keduvathundu pennaalae
Endra nalla sol paliththathammaa unnaalae
Pillaiyaiyum killivittu
Thottilaiyum aati vittu
Nalla pillai polirukkum magaraasi
Pinching the baby,
and rocking the cradle,
you act so innocent, my lady!
Pinching the baby,
and rocking the cradle,
you act so innocent, my lady!
Some speak of befriending the cat
while claiming to guard the milk;
your face reveals that very story!
Pinching the baby,
and rocking the cradle,
you act so innocent, my lady!
Abandoning love halfway through
is the way of men, so everyone says.
But a woman who abandons her lover,
no one has ever seen till now!
This is something new, my lady!
Who would ever praise you and call you a woman?
Pinching the baby,
and rocking the cradle,
you act so innocent, my lady!
A lotus flower that asks who the sun is
cannot be found anywhere.
Ask your heart, it will tell the truth;
the heart does not know how to lie.
The sky naturally knows its moon,
and soon the whole town will know our bond!
Pinching the baby,
and rocking the cradle,
you act so innocent, my lady!
That our two lives once united as one soul
in our bond has now turned into a lie!
What Sage Pattinathar and the eighteen Siddhas (spiritual masters)
sang in their verses has all come true!
"Those who trust a woman will be ruined"—
that wise saying has come true because of you!
Pinching the baby,
and rocking the cradle,
you act so innocent, my lady!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Pillaiyaiyum Killivittu' from Anaiya Vilakku expresses heartbreak and bitter betrayal experienced by a lover whose partner proved to be deceitful. Utilizing well-known Tamil proverbs—such as secretly pinching a child while pretending to rock its cradle, or posing as both the cat's friend and the protector of milk—the protagonist condemns her double-faced nature. He notes that while society frequently accuses men of abandoning love, she has shown the rare cruelty of deserting a devoted partner. Urging her to consult her own conscience, he reflects on the philosophical warnings of ancient Tamil saints like Pattinathar and the 18 Siddhas, bitterly concluding that their warnings about misplaced trust have sadly proven true through her actions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom (Pazhamozhi)

“Pillaiyaiyum killivittu / Thottilaiyum aati vittu”

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb 'Pillaiyaiyum killivittu thottilaiyum aati vittu' as a metaphor for hypocritical and deceitful behavior.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Silar poonaikkum thozhan enbaar / Paalukkum kaaval enbaar”

Employs the classic folk analogy of pretending to guard milk while being friendly with the cat to describe double-dealing.

Personification

“Nenjukku poi solla theriyaathu”

Attributes the human capability of honesty and speech to the conscience/heart.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Antha pattinaththaarum pathinettu perum / Paadina vaarththaiyellaam meiyaachchu”

Refers to saint Pattinathar and the 18 Siddhars of Tamil literature to validate his philosophical disillusionment with romantic betrayal.

Antithesis / Wordplay

“Ooruyir endru uravinil andru / Eeruyir kalanthathellaam poiyaachchu”

Contrasts 'Ooruyir' (one soul) and 'Eeruyir' (two lives) to highlight the broken bond.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anaiya Vilakku' (1975) featured Mu. Ka. Muthu (son of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) in the lead role, who also rendered this song as the playback singer. Lyricist Vaali skillfully wove Tamil folk proverbs and literary references to Siddhar philosophy into MSV's catchy composition.

Keep listening

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From the same album

More songs from Anaiya Vilakku

View album
Nalla Manadhil Kudiyirukkum1975
Anaiya VilakkuDevotional
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Anaiya VilakkuRomantic
Dhaagam Theerum1975
Anaiya VilakkuSensual

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